Electrical connectors



Jan. 10, 1956 A. s. GUTMAN 2,730,684-

ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS Filed Aug. 50, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l /7 5 7 Z0 43P75 4 grin/m 1 2\ 4a a v $4 23 24 INVENTOR. ALFDED' S. GUTMAN 1 M WWArmewe'rs Jan. 10, 1956 Filed Aug. 30, 1954 A. S. GUTMAN ELECTRICALCONNECTORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALFRED S. GUTMAN Arne/vars I "Theinvention described herein may be manufactured ,andqused by or fortheUnited States Government for "governmental purposeswithoutpaymenttome of any royalty thereon. j

This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularlytothe multiple type of electrical connectors, wherein theimprovementconsists primarily of p a male plug member carrying aplurality of circumferentially arranged stationary tapered contactstrips and a complemental female socket member carryinga plurality ofsimilarly circumferentially arranged, resiliently mounted, taperedcontact strips adapted to mate w th the "respective contact strips ofthe male plugmember when the connection is made to establisha pluralityof electrical connections.

- A further object is the provision of a coupling member having'yieldable resilient insulating mounting means for the contact strips tomaintain them in predetermined resiliently mounted spaced relationaround the axis of "the plug andsocket members including separate springmeans cooperatingwith the aforesaid resilient means for yieldably urgingthe resilient insulating mounting means inwardly toward the axis of theplug member, whereby a wiping, outwardly camming electrical contact ofthe contact strips in the, male plug mernber with the contact strips inthe male socket member is accomplished during the insertionof the plugmember into the socket member.

A further object is the provision of compressible an- 'nular sealinggasket means disposed within the socket member for sealing engagementwith the inner end of the plug member while the plug and socket contactstrips are in contacting engagement with each other.

A further object is the provision of a single electrical 'connector'employing a male plug member having a plurality of individuallyinsulated segmental camming contactwstrips around its central axis, anda complemental female socket member having a similar number ofindividually insulated, resiliently mounted, segmental contact stripsyieldably outwardly and disposed for individual outward-movementandwiping contact by the first mentionedcontact s'egmentsfor establishing apluralityof independent or separate electrical conductor connectionswhen the plug memberis inserted into the socket member. 1

-A .further object is the provision of spring means common man of thecontact segments of the socket member for yieldably maintainingelectrical contact thereof with the camming segments of the, plugmember.

j .A still further object is the provision of i a slidable couplingmemberon the plug member for connecting the sockt'memberfthereto"havinga bayonet slot coupling connection with the socket member and springmeans for tensioningtlie socket and plugmember toward each other whenconnected together by the bayonet slot coupling while the conta'ctsegments thereof are engaged to yieldably maintaingor increase thecammingsandwipin'g engagementbetween the, plug and socket segments.further .object isfithe provision of a metallic core States Patent2,730,684 Patented Jan. 10, 1956 member extending through the center ofthe plug member ice having an'insulated pilot projection on the outerend formed with an orienting key or spline thereon for engagement with acomplemental socket in the socket member, for orienting and aligning thecontact segments of the plug andsocket'members in a predeterminedcontacting relation before the segments can be brought into electricalwiping contact witheach other.

A further object is the provision of a simple single electricalconnector forestablishing a multitude of predetermined electricalconductor contacts or connections which is easy to manipulate. Simpleand comparatively easy to' manufacture and positive in action, includingshielding means incorporated therein wtih' a common ground through thecore member together with a sealing gasket carried by the plug membersoperable incident to the coupling to establish a leak-proof sealedconnection between the socket and plug multi-segments when the same arebrought intofinalelectrical contact with each other. Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be come apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying. drawing in which like referencedcharacters refer to like parts in the several figures. t t

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through themulti-contact plug ormale coupling contact member embodying theinvention. h

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the complernentalsocket or female coupling contact member embodying the invention.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the plug and socketmembers, illustrating the samein coupled 'or electrical contactestablished relation, the conduit connecting the socket member andhousing the individual electrical wires or conductor for the yieldablecontact segments being shown in phantom, the wires to the segments beingomitted.

Figure 4 is an end view of the coupling members shown in Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5. Figure 5 is a fragmentarytransverse sectional view takenapproximately onthe line .5 -S of Figure3.

Figure 6 is a detailperspective of one of the contact segments of theplug member. Figure 7 is a sectional view. taken about on line 7-7 ofFigure 6. I p I Figure 8 is a detail, perspective view of one of theyieldable contact segments of the socket member.

Specification 'of electrical connections to be employed in the plug andsocket membersf The segments 3, as shown in Fig. '7, are insulated bycoating three sides, or all sides except the inclined contact faceQandfor'shielding purposes may also be paintedonthese three or more sideswith silver or a suitable metallic paint or second coating. The segments3 are assembled around a metal core or arbor 4, together wtihinsulating'strips or spacer segments 5 therebetween, the arbor 4 servingas a common ground connection for the silver metal painted shields justmentioned. An'insulated bushing 6, preferably made of Teflon, surroundsand holds-the contact segments 3 and insulated strips 5.-together asshown, and a container or plug mount ing member,7,'preferably made ofbrass or suitable metal, protects this assembly and provides the meansfor fastening it to an electrical chassis or support not shown, holes 3in the flange 9 being provided for fastener members such as bolts.

The plug mounting member 7 has a reduced concentric stem 10, formed withan outer concentric further reduced end 11, on which is mounted atapered or conical flanged annular collar 12, abutting at a radialflanged end of the insulating bushing 6 at its front end. This collar 12is preferably metal, such as brass, and is formed with an annular gasketreceiving groove immediate its front and rear faces, in which is mounteda rubber-like O ring or gasket seal 13. i

A cup-like connector or coupling member 14, preferably of metal, isprovided, havingv a. rear annular inturned flange or wall 15 which isslidably mounted on. the stem portion 10. A bent spring washer memberis, or plurality of superimposed bent spring washers 16 are, mounted onthe stem between the rear wall of the coupling member 14 and the rearface of the collar 12 for yieldably tensioning the coupling member 14 ina direc- L tion toward the inner end of the plug mounting member 7. Thiscoupling member 14 interconnects with the socket member to tension thesame toward the plug mem ber and is formed with bayonet-type couplingand locking slots 17, opening forwardly through the front rim 18 toreceive the lugs 19 on the metallic shell or sleeve member 20 of thesocket member 2.

The contact segments 3 (which are 12 in number as illustrated in thisdrawing) and the insulating. segments 5 therebetw een, provide a conicalmulti-contact plug surably secured to the rebent ends 24. The bars 23are preferably also insulation coated for. insulating purposes and thenpainted with silver paint for shielding. purposes from the segments 3 topoints adjacent the reheat ends 24.

An insulated pilot bushing 25 is fixed on the front end of the arbor 4as shown, and is provided with an orienting spline or key member 26 andformed with an annular flange 27 surrounding the front ends of thecontact and spacer segments 3 and 5, being secured to the reducedextension of the core 4. As shown, the space between the bushing 6 andthe arbor 4, and a channel or bore-extending through the front portionof the arbor 4 and through the center of the pilot member 25, is filledvwith a suitable insulating. plastic 28 which when hardened assists inretaining the parts in their operative relations. It should be notedthat the segments 3 are insulated electrically from each other by theintermediate spacer segments 5, and the plastic filler 28, and the thininsulating coating or paint like material, leaving only the exposedinclined contact faces 21 uncoated, the insulating coating justmentioned being preferably coated or painted with a silver paint ormetallic coating,.forming an electrostatic shield which is grounded onthe arbor 4.at the enlarged head or front end thereof, as indicated at29..

Pins 30 project forwardly from the front end of seg ments 3 and areseatedin suitable aperturesin the flange 26, anchoring the front ends ofthe segments 3 and the pilot bushing member 25'together.

. The socket or female member 2 comprises preferably the metalliccylindrical sleeve, member20' having a diameter suitable to telescopeinto the cylindrical bore of the coupling member 14, and" as beforementioned, has projecting lug members 19 on the exterior'designed'to'enter the bayonet slots 17 and interlock the members 1 and2 together when the coupling member 14 is rotated for establishing themulti-circuit electrical connections between the contact segments. Thefront end of the sleeve member 20 is formed with an annular inwardlyflanged portion 31 formed with a concentric outwardly flared opening orentrance 32 to receive the conical contact stem of the plug member 1.The flared entrance surface 32 is disposed to engage and compress the 0ring 13, providing a leak-proof seal between the flange 12 of the plugmember 1 and the shell 20 of the socket member 2.

An annular ring or washer 33 of insulating material is seated within thesleeve 20 against the rear face of the flanged end 31, forming aninsulating abutment for the front end of the annular yieldablemulti-contact segment assembly, best seen in Fig. 2. The opposite end ofthis assembly is arranged to abut against a cup-shaped insulatingretainer plate 34,v best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the plate 34 beingretained. in position within the shell 20 by a snap or locking ring 35which is seated in a groove 36 formed in the inner wall of the shellmember 20.

The rear end of the shell 20 is notched or castellated as at 37, whilethe outer surface is formed with. an annular groove 38 to receive aninternal flange on a conventional split conduit 39 through which theelectrical wires or conductors extend for individual connection to theyieldable contact segments of the socket member contact assembly.

The socket member contact assembly comprises a plurality of taperedcontact segments 40, and intermediate spacer elements or segments 41 ofinsulating material as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the segments 40 beingtwelve in number as illustrated to match the segments 3, each segment 40having its contact face 22 disposed for wiping contact with one of thecontact faces 21 of the plug assembly. The segments 40 and spacers 41are formed with dovetail like slots in their outer or back faces,together forming an annular substantially dovetail channel 42surrounding socket member contact assembly. An annular ring 43 ofresilient rubber or the like is seated in the dovetail channel 42 asshown to assist in retaining the socket assembly together, the annularrubber ring or band member 43 being formed with two annular channels 44in its. outer surface and in each channel 44 an endless coil springclamping band 45' is mounted.

An orienting notch 46 is formed in the front end of at least one ofthesegments 40' to engage an indexing pin 47 formed of insulating.material to index the rotative position of the contact segment assemblyat its front end relative to the sleeve or casing 20; Metallic contactor terminal bars or rods 48 project rearwardly from the rear ends of thesegments 40 and are adapted to have electrical wires'or conductors (notshown) connected selectively thereto.

The cup-shaped retainer plate 34 is preferably formed of toughinsulatingmaterial such as Teflon, and is provided with a ring of radialslots 49 to accommodate the contact or terminal rods 48, the slots 39being consider ably' longer than the diameter of the bars 48 to providefor radial. expansion or adjustment of the segments 40 when the plug 1is inserted. The center'of the Teflon" cup-like member 34 is formed withan orienting guide opening 50 to receive the pilot bushing 25, anindexing notch 51 in the wall thereof being provided to receive theindexing spline 48'when the coupling members 1 and 2 are broughttogether.

It should be noted that the socket contact segment assembly is somewhatloosely mounted between the ring 33 and the retainer plate 34 and istherefore expandable and contractable within the shell .20 when the plugmember 2 is inserted into or removed from within the socket member 1.

The segments, like the segments 3 are likewise preferably coated toprovide an insulation layer surrounding each segment on alllsides'exceptthe contact surfaces'2'l. This insulation coating is preferably paintedwith a layer of silver paint or metallic coating to form anelectrostatic gether the pilot extension 25 is first inserted into theguide opening 50 and the spline and notch elements 26 and 51 arealigned. This fixes the relative predetermined contacting relation ofthe contact segments, placing the desired or proper predeterminedcontact segments 3 and 40 in longitudinal alignment. The members 1 and 2can now be brought together, the coupling member 14 being, of course,turned to dispose the entrance ends of the bayonet slots 17 in positionfor the reception of the cooperating lugs 19. As the plug contactsegments 3 enter the socket contact segments 40 a positive wipingcontactis established between each complementary pair of contact segments, thesegments 40 being cammed outwardly are self-adjusting to dispose thefacing electrical contact surfaces 21 and 22 in contact with each otherto provide maximum electrical contact throughout their lengths andwidths, the outer or female contact segments being substantiallyindividually tensioned radially inward toward the complemental malecontact segments by the common contracting sleeve 43 and the two springbands 45.

The coupling sleeve 14 is now rotated to bring and lock the couplingmembers 1 and 2 together, causing the socket segments 40 to be cammedoutwardly by the surfaces 21 of the plug segments, increasing thecontact pressures and clamping the O ring 13 tightly between theoutwardly flared surface of the entrance 32 and the conical surface ofthe flange members 12, this action also moving the coupling member 14toward the'flange 12 to further tension the spring disks or washers 16as the lugs 19 drop into slight dwells at the inner or rear ends of thebayonet'slots 17, thus locking the members 1 and 2 together andestablishing a leak-proof seal, and multiple, positive,'yieldable,electrical connections between the terminal ends of each pair ofcomplemental contact segments, with" the shielding layers being groundedthrough the arbor 4, as, described thus electrostatically shielding theplug and socket members.

' While .the invention is shown and described in connection with apreferred embodiment for exemplary purposes, it will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that various minor changes and modificationsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention as defined in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. Ina multiple contact electrical connector, a plug contactmemberhaving a central axis comprising a plurality of contact segments fixedin insulated relation to each other around the central axis, eachsegment having an inclined contact surface inclined forwardly of theplug contact member toward the central axis, and facing radially outwardto form an annular outwardly tapered multicontact plug having thetapered contact surfaces spaced around its periphery, a complementalmulti-contact socket member for the plug member having an inner inwardlytapered multi-contact surface substantially complemental to theoutwardly tapered multi-contact surface of the plug forming a socket,comprising an annular body having a central axis, a plurality ofrelatively insulated contact segments, yieldably mounted within the bodyfor ally inward toward the central axis of the body, and cooperatingbayonet slot and lug means between the body and the plug member foradvancing the multi-contact plug into the multi-contact socket member toestablish electrical contact between the contact surfaces of thesegments and locking the plug and socket members together when saidcontact is established.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a connector sleeve memberslidably mounted on the plug member in spaced concentric relation to themulti-contact plug for receiving the body therein when the plug isinserted in the socket, said sleeve member having one of thecomplementary bayonet slot and lug coupling means formed thereon, springmeans between the plug member and the sleeve member urging the sleevemember axially away from the outer end of the plug member, whereby theplug and socket members are tensioned and resiliently urged togetherinto tighter electrical contacting relation when the bayonet slot andlug members are locked in inter-engagement.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including an annular sealing gasketcarried by one of the plug and socket members and located between thelast named members for sealing contact therebetween when the plug andsocket members are connected together.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the plug is formed with arearwardly and outwardly inclined annular flange at the rear ends of thecontact segments therein, and the forward end of the body of the socketmember is formed with an outwardly flared annular coritact surface andthe sealing gasket comprises an annular rubber-like gasket mountedconcentrically on one of said plug and socket members for compressionand sealing relation between the last mentioned contact surfaces to forma seal between the plug member and the socket body when the plug andsocket members are connected together. i

5. In a multi-contact electrical connector, a plug tapered membercomprising a core member, a plurality of tapered radial contact segmentssurrounding the core member in insulated relation to each other and thecore member, each segment having a contact surface inclined forwardly ofthe plug member toward the axis of the core member, to form an annularoutwardly tapered plug, with the contact surfaces spaced around itsperiphery, an electrostatic shield'coating surrounding the sides of thecontact segments with the exception of the inclined contact surfacesthereof, grounded to the core member, a complemental multi-contactsocket member for said plug member comprising a sleeve-like body havinga central axis, relatively insulated tapered radial contact segmentsmounted therein each formed with an inclined contact surface facingradially inward toward the central axis of the body and inclininginwardly away from the mouth of the body of the socket member, theinclined contact surface of each of the segments in the body beingpositioned in the body for contacting engagement with the inclinedcontact surface of a predetermined one of the contact segments in theplug, to form an annular inwardly tapered complemental socket for theplug member, electrostatic shielding means surrounding the sides of thecontact segments of the socket member with the exception of the inclinedcontact surfaces thereof and means for grounding the last namedshielding means on the core member when the plug member is inserted intothe socket member to establish electrical contact between the inclinedcontact surfaces of the complemental segment members.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including resilient coupling meansfor coupling the plug and socket members together and resiliently urgingthe contact segments thereof into tighter contacting relation.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 including complemental orientingoperable means between the plug and socket members for rotatablyorienting the socket member relative to the plug member to position .thecontact surfaces of the segments in the socket member pre-. determinedposition for contact .with predetermined contact surfaces of the contactsegments of the plug member prior to the establishing of electricalcontact between the segments.

8. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 5 including an annular O ring sealinggasket mounted on saidcore member rearwardly of the inner ends of thecontact segments of the plug member, an annular flange carried by thecore connecting rods extending rearwardly of the plug member andarranged in radical relation around the core member substantiallyparallel thereto, and a shielding coating thereon throughoutsubstantially the lengths thereof connected to the electrostatic shieldfor the segments of the plug.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the contact segments in thesocket member are formed with terminal connecting rods extendingrearwardly of the socket in radial relation to and substantiallyparallel to the central axis of the socket member and a radially slottedinsulation plate fixed to the rear end of-the body with the terminalconnecting rods extending through the radial slotted openings to providefor radial adjustment of the rods incident to radial movement of thesocket segments.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the contact segments areall separated fromeach other by a narrow segment of insulating material,the radial segments of the socket member being formed with an elongatedtransverse groove or channel in their radially outward sides or backs.to provide an annular channel surrounding the contact segments whenassembled to form the socket member, a resilient annular rubber-likeband of insulating material disposed in the annular channel justmentioned to resiliently urge the segments inwardly toward the centralaxis of the socket member.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim l1 in which the outer periphery oftheannular resilient band is formed with an annular coil springreceiving channeland includes an endless coil spring band seated in thespring receiving channel under tension.

13. An electrical connector comprising a plurality of separaterelatively insulated tapered elect'r ical contact seg ments, arrangedradially around a central axis with the tapered portion facing radiallyoutward to form a tapered multi-contact plug member, and a complementalmulticontact socket member for said plug member comprising asubstantially cylindrical sleeve member to receive the plu glt' tlelilbftherein Having a central axis, a similar number ,ofsep'arate relativelyinsulated tapered contact segments to those of the plug member arrangedaround the central axisfof the.sleeve'm'emberwithin the sleeve member inradial displacement relative to .the central axis thereof with theirtapered portions facing radially inward and radiallyandcircumferentially so spaced to each provide a separate inclinedlinesurface contact with a predetermined one of the taperedportions ofthe first mentioned segments, yieldable resilient constricting meanssurrounding the radially inwardly facing portions of the radiallydisplaceable segments for yieldably tensioning thereon inwardly towardthe central axis of thesleevc member to form the complementarytaperedsocketlmember for the plug membet.

' 1 4. A plugand socket electrical connector device as claimed in claim13.in cluding a central core member extending through the plug memberhaving a socket member orienting pilot head in advance of the plugsegments, and a complemental pilot head receiving socket member fixed inthe sleeve member located rearwardly of yieldable socket members thereinfor receiving' the pilot head to align the contactscgments of the plugand socket members prior to establishing electrical contacting relationtherebetween.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 including resilient couplingmeans connectable between the plug and socket member for releasablycoupling said plug and socket members together when the pilothead isinserted into the pilot receiving sockeb for yieidably tensioning theplug and socket members toward each other to urge the tapered portionsor the contact segments of the plug member into tighter camming contactwith the tapered portions of the contact segments of the socket memberto establish a wipingcontact therebetweeen tending to displace thesocket member contact segments radially outward against the constrictiveactionof the associated yieldable constricting means.

16 Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the radially movable contactsegments in the socket member are eachresiliently mounted for selfadjusting action, whereby upon contact of thetapered surfaces, when theplug and socket member are coupled together, the socket segments areyieldable to establish contact through substantially the entire lengthof their tapered portions with substantially the entire length of thetapered portions of the segments of the plug member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,014,843 Hirmann Sept. 17, 1935 2,195,343 Sayre Mar. 26, 1940 2,236,167David Mar. 25, 1941 2,306,206 Dalgleish Dec. 22, 1942 2,594,004 Parish-Q. Apr. 22, 1952 2,642,474 Bowar June 16, 1953

